SHILLONG, Aug 16 ? The proscribed A?chik National Volunteers Council (ANVC), which recently signed a tripartite ceasefire agreement with the Centre and the State, is all set to usher in a fresh chapter in the violence-ridden history of the Garo Hills by giving up guns and working for development. Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh told reporters on the eve of Independence Day that the ANVC leadership would concentrate in the development of Garo Hills. ?As of now there is no demand from the ANVC for the Greater Garoland and what they want now is the improvement of Garo Hills,? Lyngdoh said adding the outfit had assured of not returning to gun culture.
Top leaders of the Garo outfit, including its general secretary Wanding Marak met both the Home Minister and the Chief Minister DD Lapang here on Thursday to discuss issues relating to the truce pact. Stating that the designated camps for the militants would be made functional immediately after Independence Day, Home Minister Lyngdoh said the ANVC leaders expressed the desire to start the camps from August 18 next. One camp would be set up at Samanda in East Garo Hills, another in South Garo Hills while the liaison office would be set up at Tura, headquarters of West Garo Hills district.
Chief Minister Lapang on the other hand expressed concern over the confusion following the first round of meeting of the Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) held recently. ?We shall ensure that no confusion is created in the near future regarding the outcome of talks between the ANVC and the Government,? he told reporters.
The Chief Minister said during his meeting with the ANVC leaders on Thursday, they had not spoken anything on their demand for Greater Garoland. ?It is not true that the ANVC in the JMG meeting discussed the demand for Greater Garoland,? Lapang said and added their demands would be discussed at a later stage with the involvement of the Central Government.
Meanwhile, surrendered cadres of the banned Khasi outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), while appreciating the ongoing dialogue between ANVC and the government said the demand to include certain portions of West Khasi Hills in the proposed ?Greater Garoland? was unjust.